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Published on: January 20, 2023
Trends in hospitalizations associated with pediatric traumatic brain injuries
Stephen M Bowman1, Tommy M Bird, Mary E Aitken
1Department of Pediatrics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas 72202-3591, USA. bowmanstephenm@uams.edu
Insights
Pediatric traumatic brain injury (TBI) hospitalizations decreased significantly from 1991-2005, mainly due to fewer mild TBI cases. However, moderate and severe TBI rates remain unchanged, highlighting a need for targeted prevention strategies.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Traumatology
- Public Health Surveillance
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a significant cause of pediatric morbidity and mortality.
- Understanding hospitalization trends is crucial for effective injury prevention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze trends in pediatric TBI hospitalizations in the U.S. from 1991-2005.
- To establish national benchmarks for state and regional comparisons.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (1991-2005).
- Included children aged 0-19 years.
- Calculated annual TBI hospitalization rates stratified by age, gender, severity, and outcome.
Main Results:
- Overall pediatric TBI hospitalizations decreased by 39% (119.4 to 72.7 per 100,000).
- Rates declined across all age groups and genders, with boys consistently higher.
- Fatal TBI hospitalization rates decreased from 3.5 to 2.8 per 100,000.
Conclusions:
- Mild TBI hospitalizations drove the overall decrease.
- Hospitalization rates for moderate and severe TBI remained stable.
- National data can inform targeted injury prevention strategies for pediatric TBI.
Objectives:
The goals were to describe trends in pediatric traumatic brain injury hospitalizations in the United States and to provide national benchmarks for state and regional comparisons.
Methods:
Analysis of existing data (1991-2005) from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample, the largest longitudinal, all-payer, inpatient care database in the United States, was performed. Children 0 to 19 years of age were included. Annual rates of traumatic brain injury-related hospitalizations, stratified according to age, gender, severity of traumatic brain injury, and outcome, were determined.
Results:
From 1991 to 2005, the estimated annual incidence rate of pediatric hospitalizations associated with traumatic brain injury decreased 39%, from 119.4 to 72.7 hospitalizations per 100,000. The rates decreased for all age groups and for both boys and girls, although the rate for boys remained consistently higher at each time point. Fatal hospitalization rates decreased from 3.5 deaths per 100,000 in 1991-1993 to 2.8 deaths per 100,000 in 2003-2005. The rate of mild traumatic brain injury hospitalizations accounted for most of the overall decrease, whereas nonfatal hospitalization rates for moderate and severe traumatic brain injuries remained relatively unchanged.
Conclusions:
Although pediatric hospitalization rates for mild traumatic brain injuries have decreased over the past 15 years, rates for moderate and severe traumatic brain injuries are relatively unchanged. Our study provides national estimates of pediatric traumatic brain injury hospitalizations that can be used as benchmarks to increase injury prevention effectiveness through targeting of effective strategies.
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